The original goals and history of the Nissan ESV Program.

In this article, the experimental safety vehicle (ESV) programme of the Japanese vehicle manufacturer,Nissan is outlined. At Nissan emphasis was placed on the safety of small cars, utilizing a four passenger ESV weighing 2500 Lbs, and the major objective was to improve occupant safety at speeds of 50 mph. The development of airbags, preloaded seat belts and rear seat belts are discussed.